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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-04-07Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM briefs president on last week's NATO summitPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis briefed President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias Monday on the outcome of the recent NATO summit meeting in Bucharest. Referring to the still unresolved FYROM "name issue", Karamanlis said it is not an easy issue and called again on the neighboring country to adopt a positive stance in order to reach a solution soon. He said the strategy outlined by Greece was being implemented with consistency, adding that "we will continue to work within the UN framework in a self-confident, serious and responsible manner ... We hope that the other side will be responsive and that a solution will be reached soon." In the brief discussion in front of reporters, Papoulias said that the Bucharest summit was a success, pointing out that it creates a new starting point, at least for the 'name issue'. The premier stressed that this was a difficult turning point, adding that there is still a long way to go before a solution is found, expressing a hope, however, that the outcome will be positive. Finally, Papoulias pointed out that Bucharest offers a new sense of optimism that the end result will be a success. Caption: Greek President Karolos Papoulias (R) greets Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Monday, April 7, 2008, at the presidential mansion in Athens. ANA-MPA / M. MAROGIANNI[02] Papandreou address at Athens law schoolMain opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou on Monday addressed students at the Athens University Law School, expressing his conviction that "a reversal was on the way and the change will stop the country's downhill slide"."Because PASOK is a force for radical change, many people would like it to slowly fade away. But PASOK is forging ahead with its ideas, united and strong," he underlined. Expressing a wish that their generation will "become the generation of the new change," he said that PASOK differed from both the conservative forces, "that told young people that they were helpless to resist the blows of fate", and the left, that "shut itself in its shell and deals with problems as a protest". "PASOK undertakes actions, deflecting the culture of fear," he underlined. Referring to the outcome of the NATO summit in Bucharest with regard to the name dispute - and the Alliance's decision not to extend an invitation to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) after Greece raised a veto - Papandreou said Greece had "played defence" and that this had been right but that it also needed to take the initiative. He stressed, meanwhile, that the current generation of young people would find themselves up against with the most unprecedented problems yet to face humanity, such as climate change, immigration, new technologies, biotechnology, unemployment and general insecurity, warning them to "be ready for everything". Referring to his party's policy on higher education, including controversial Article 16 of the Constitution, Papandreou stressed that Greece's educational system was badly in need of reform and outlined his party's policies for achieving these, including an increase in funding and autonomy for universities and technical colleges. Papandreou's address to the students, the first by a PASOK president to the Athens law school, comes in the run-up to student elections throughout the country, in which he said the party-affiliated student party PASP should fight to overturn the ageing system and to bring internal changes within the student movement. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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